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Trainer John Sadler and his Hong Kong-based owner Boniface Ho look to have a smart two-year-old on their hands after the impressive debut win of Starry Legend in the IVE>Print Plate (1000m) at Sandown on Wednesday.

A $500,000 yearling purchase by Zoustar, Starry Legend  had the race under his control soon after leaving the barriers. 

Under a good hold by jockey Michael Dee and tracking a wide course to the middle of the track, Starry Legend was joined soon after straightening, but switched up a gear at the 300m to race away to a commanding victory. 

Heavily supported, Starry Legend ($2.80) raced to a 3-3/4 length win from De Long Star ($41) with Square Cut ($15) in third place, a further 1-3/4 lengths away. 

"We came here hoping," Sadler said. 

"I took one to Ballarat last Sunday for Bon Ho and while I didn't think it could win, I thought it would run well, but it just never flattered at all. 

"I know he was pretty disappointed, along with me, but I said to wait until Wednesday it will all happen there and I was hoping it would and he's delivered. 

"We've liked him for a long time, but he had only gone 800 metres and you just wonder, but as happy as I am, that hasn't surprised me that he's done that." 

Sadler said Starry Legend had a few niggles that had delayed his debut and was a full preparation behind other two-year-olds that had been prepared for last week's Blue Diamond Stakes. 

A discussion will now take place between Sadler and Boniface Ho to work out where to head, but the trainer is favouring the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) at Bendigo on March 27. 

"Off the top of my head that would be the race that we would go to and then out for a break for a while," Sadler said. 

Dee said there was a lot to like about Starry Legend's victory. 

The jockey said he had done most of the work on the colt leading up to his debut and was confident of a first-up win. 

"He flew the gates, pricked his ears, relaxed pretty good, albeit at a nice tempo, and then he was able to letdown without anything to follow," Dee said. 

"We were out in the middle of the track and there was plenty of things to look at, but he was certainly strong through the line."